Onteora School District faces “unfathomable” choices as district’s enrollment dwindles

Bennette Middle School

The Onteora Central School District’s low student enrollments continue to raise serious issues. Something needs to be done. Graduating classes that once reached over 200 now hover around 90, and the school-age population of the district isn’t likely to increase any time soon.

Three full years ago, the district released a 70-page study by veteran consultant Dr. Kevin Baughman offering five alternative scenarios to tackle the ever-thorny possibilities of grade configuration in its four operating buildings, to deal once more with how to handle declining enrollment, and to address the ever-present need to save money.

Since that time, no decisions have been made.

There was minimal attendance at the January 10 school board meeting to discuss long-term configurations.

Three meetings will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on January 31 in the middle/high school cafeteria, on February 28 on Zoom, and on March 27 in the middle/ high school cafeteria. The district has been asking potential attendees to fill out a brief questionnaire found on www.onteora.k12.ny.us/survey23.